Crime Science

Crime science is defined as the application of scientific approaches and techniques to the control of crime. Crime science, having emerged from the U.K., is a growing field in the U.S. What was once thought of as crime prevention has now evolved into crime science.

Tiffin University is a pioneer in master’s-level crime science education in the U.S. Our graduate program in crime science focuses on why crime occurs, when and where it occurs, and how to curtail it. The focus is not on the individual offender – rather on the act itself.

The emphasis of our crime science program is to provide knowledge to a broad range of working professional whose focus is to provide safe, crime-controlled environments, both public and private, via the study of why crime occurs in certain environments and how it can be controlled through intentional and evidence-based design. The program is centered on Intentional Environmental Design (IED), a progressive crime prevention concept.

The field of crime science focuses on three core tenets: the study of crime problems, scientific methods and reduction of harm. Some basic concepts of crime science include image management, target hardening, access control, territoriality and surveillance, all of which are examined in Tiffin University’s crime science program.

Professional crime science Training

• The graduate program in crime science addresses why criminal acts occur in a given environment using evidence-based, scientific approaches.
• The program is perfect for the law enforcement executive and a variety of other professionals such as city planners, architects, and security consultants interested in designing environments that are crime resistant.
• This program draws from many disciplines such as law enforcement, psychology, forensic science, homeland security, engineering, biology, urban planning and geography.
• We are one of the only universities in the U.S. to offer a master’s degree in the emerging field of crime science.

The practitioner-based focus of our crime science courses and curriculum is well aligned with the professional focus of Tiffin University. Our program’s faculty bring to the classroom years of criminal justice experience at the federal and local levels. This practitioner-based approach and real-world perspective are primary reasons why criminal justice students attend Tiffin University – they know the faculty will be teaching from experience rather than simply from a textbook.

a practical, professional education

With the career-ready knowledge and skills you’ll gain in our crime science graduate program, you’ll have the ability to:

• Create a safe environment beginning in the design phase of any public project endeavor.
• Undertake research projects including design, data gathering and evaluation.
• Identify and engage appropriate assets, capabilities and resources to apply Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) in an effort to reduce crime.
• Apply Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in law enforcement.
• Use the best available evidence to inform and challenge policies, practices and decisions in your profession.

While our graduate degree in crime science is an online program, you’ll engage with your classmates and instructors in active discussion forums. Your study of theory will be enhanced by real-life examples of how these concepts are applied by professionals in the crime science field. You’ll learn from the experiences of classmates – professionals such as law enforcement executives, city planners, architects, security consultants and others whose objective is to design environments that are crime resistant.

The program culminates in a capstone course in which you are expected to solve a practical environmental problem at your place of employment. This will include a comprehensive case study in which the principles of crime science are employed.

FORMAT

Online – Offered in two terms per semester starting in January, March, May, July, August and October

SAMPLE COURSES

Crime Science Overview: Theories, Principles and Methods (ENF 511) – This course provides students with an overview of the field of Crime Science. It examines general theories of Crime Science including Routine Activity theory, Crime Pattern theory, and Rational Choice theory, among others. The course introduces students to the various aspects of Crime Science in practice including situational crime prevention principles and techniques. Students will become acquainted with the various methods used in Crime Science including crime scripting, agent-based modeling, and social network analysis. Finally, the course offers explanations of the relationships between the Crime Science field and related fields such as Criminology, Law Enforcement, and Forensic Science, and many others.

Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (ENF 515) – The purpose of this course is to examine Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and its components. Through evaluation and discussion of a wide range of multi-disciplinary topics and issues, students will gain an appreciation for the role of CPTED as a component of crime science. Students will also learn to identify and engage appropriate assets, capabilities and resources to apply CPTED in an effort to reduce crime. The course will review standards related to CPTED as part of community planning and physical security. The course will also compare CPTED to other crime prevention approaches.

Evidence-Based Policing (ENF 621) – This course will introduce students to the body of knowledge and research in policing. Evidence-based policing involves decision making through careful examination and evaluation of the best available evidence from multiple sources by applying critical thinking skills to successfully appraise the evidence in order to address answerable questions. This course will distinguish evidence-based practices from opinion and assumption in the field of policing. Students will gain an understanding of the need to develop their own evidence-based practices and learn to use the best available evidence to inform and challenge policies, practices, and decisions in their own professions.

Geographic Information Systems in Criminal Justice (ENF 622) – The focus of the class is to provide an overview of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the techniques used in the study of criminal justice. This class will cover some of the major concepts that can aid law enforcement in becoming more efficient in the decision-making process in the areas of tactical, strategic, and operational functions. The course will focus on both the theoretical work, which will give a fundamental grounding in the work of environmental criminologists, and in practical application, giving you an understanding of how GIS is applied in law enforcement.

All MSCJ concentrations offered:

• Crime Analysis
• Crime Science
• Criminal Behavior
• Forensic Psychology
• Homeland Security
• Homeland Security Administration
• Justice Administration

Crime science is a growing field and many career opportunities await graduates who bring a graduate degree to the field. According to the International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA), the demand for qualified crime analysts has increased more than tenfold in the past 15 years, and the field will continue to grow even more over time.

CAREERS

• Architects
• City Planners
• Civil Engineers
• Corporate Executives
• Corporate Security Personnel
• Criminalists
• Criminal Justice Professionals
• Law Enforcement Executive
• Security Consultants
• City Council Members
• Loss Prevention Personnel
• OSHA Personnel
• School Administrators

what is crime science?

Crime science is defined as the application of scientific approaches and techniques to the control of crime. Crime science, having emerged from the U.K., is a growing field in the U.S. What was once thought of as crime prevention has now evolved into crime science.

what is a master’s in crime science?

A master’s in crime science provides knowledge to a broad range of working professional whose focus is to provide safe, crime-controlled environments, both public and private, via the study of why crime occurs in certain environments and how it can be controlled through intentional and evidence-based design. The program is centered on Intentional Environmental Design (IED), a progressive crime prevention concept.

what can i do with a degree in crime science?

With a degree in crime science, you will be qualified for a variety of career opportunities, including architect, city planner, civil engineer, corporate executives, corporate security, criminalist, criminal justice professional, law enforcement executive, security consultant, city council member, loss prevention personnel, OSHA personnel, school administrator and more.